Forecast: Ogden Area Mountains - Utah Avalanche Center

Forecast for the Ogden Area Mountains

Issued by Trent Meisenheimer on
Sunday morning, February 23, 2025

The avalanche danger is MODERATE on slopes at the mid and upper elevations northwest through east-facing terrain. Here, slab avalanches may break down several feet deep into weaker layers in the snowpack. We also have a MODERATE avalanche danger for new soft slabs of wind-drifted snow. Evaluate the snow and terrain carefully and continue to practice safe travel protocols.

Wet-loose avalanches on steep, southerly-facing slopes are possible with daytime heating and direct sun.

Low

Moderate

Considerable

High

Extreme

Learn how to read the forecast here

Special Avalanche Bulletin

The Utah Avalanche Center is issuing a Special Avalanche Bulletin after a series of storms in the last week has left a thick blanket of snow at all elevations, creating excellent powder riding conditions while also elevating the backcountry avalanche danger. Don't let the fresh snow and sunshine influence your decision-making - avalanche conditions remain dangerous, and careful snowpack and terrain analysis are required for backcountry travel. Fortunately, there are great riding and travel conditions away from avalanche terrain on slopes less than 30° in steepness.

Weather and Snow

Under clear skies, mountain temperatures range from 20-33 °F. Overnight, the wind picked up from the west-southwest and is now blowing 20-30 mph across upper-elevation terrain.

This morning, the flow will back to the west as our ridge flattens out. This will lead to increasing clouds throughout the day and maybe a few inches of new snow. The wind will remain from the west and blow at speeds of 20-30 mph. Temperatures will rise into the mid-30s °F.

Recent Avalanches

No new avalanches were reported from the Ogden area. However, there was plenty of avalanche activity to our north and south.

Unfortunately, Colorado reported an avalanche fatality yesterday, with a rider triggering an avalanche that broke into a persistent weak layer. In Utah, we had four very close calls, and it seems we got fortunate yesterday that no one died. Three of the four close calls were avalanches breaking deeper in the snowpack. In each case, the riders were caught, carried, and injured. Lifeflight was called to Ant Knolls for leg and chest injuries (photo below). In Logan, someone knocked their front teeth out. Mt Aire, luckily, only led to bumps and bruises. On Friday in Provo, someone narrowly escaped a wet slide in a steep couloir that would have ended badly (links below).

Powderbirds used explosives yesterday and triggered three significant avalanches on northerly-facing terrain. Each slab avalanche broke into faceted snow, and some were a few hundred feet wide, running full track.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

There are several weak layers in the top 1-3 feet of the snowpack, including layers of faceted snow around temperature crusts. Richie Schumacher's photo below shows some of the crusts that can be found on all aspects.

If you choose to approach avalanche terrain you are going to have to continually evaluate the snowpack by pulling out your shovel and looking for weak layers in the snowpack. A widespread spatial variability complicates things, meaning the lack of a weak layer on one slope doesn't imply the lack of a weak layer on an adjacent slope. If you aren't confident in doing this necessary work of evaluating the snowpack, there is a easy solution: avoid avalanche terrain and enjoy the excellent riding conditions on low-angled slopes.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The wind from the west has already picked up, and there is plenty of snow available for transport. I would be on the lookout for new sensitive soft slabs of wind-blown snow.

Type

Location

Likelihood

Size

Description

The sun is strong this time of year and it doesn't take much to turn cold snow into damp/wet snow. Be on the lookout for signs of wet snow avalanches. If you're seeing roller balls it's time to change to a cooler aspect.

General Announcements

CLICK HERE FOR MORE GENERAL INFO AND FAQ

This information does not apply to developed ski areas or highways where avalanche control is normally done. This forecast is from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which is solely responsible for its content. This forecast describes general avalanche conditions and local variations always occur.

Observations and Avalanches

Backcountry Emergency Procedures